Authement has been personally involved in nine years’ worth of ceremonies, both in his roles as supervisor and a previous stint as H.L. Bourgeois High School’s principal.

All that experience, in combination with the input of those who went before him, has yielded a set of protocols that make for a well-organized and efficient system, he said.

Each ceremony lasts about 90 minutes, he said, and most run “like clockwork.”

High school students will get instructions from individual schools about when graduates and families should show up and what they can bring, but the general rule is that doors open an hour before ceremonies start.

Lafourche schools are closed this week for spring break, and officials there were not immediately available for comment.

Most schools give out tickets for graduation ceremonies — in Terrebonne, 10 per graduate is the norm — and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats is discouraged.

Airhorns, signs and similar items that could prove distracting are prohibited from the ceremonies, which organizers intend to be orderly and dignified.

<p>Nearly a dozen high schools across Terrebonne and Lafourche have scheduled commencement ceremonies for the thousands of students who will have completed their studies at this school year's end. </p><p>Those ceremonies start May 16 and run through May 30, according to school officials. </p><p>Nicholls State University will hold two spring commencement ceremonies — at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 18 on the Thibodaux campus. </p><p>Fletcher Technical Community College will hold one, at 7 p.m. May 30 at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd.</p><p>Terrebonne Parish public schools graduate about 1,000 seniors a year, said Tony Authement, the district's secondary education supervisor.</p><p>Authement has been personally involved in nine years' worth of ceremonies, both in his roles as supervisor and a previous stint as H.L. Bourgeois High School's principal.</p><p>All that experience, in combination with the input of those who went before him, has yielded a set of protocols that make for a well-organized and efficient system, he said.</p><p>Each ceremony lasts about 90 minutes, he said, and most run “like clockwork.”</p><p>High school students will get instructions from individual schools about when graduates and families should show up and what they can bring, but the general rule is that doors open an hour before ceremonies start.</p><p>Lafourche schools are closed this week for spring break, and officials there were not immediately available for comment.</p><p>Most schools give out tickets for graduation ceremonies — in Terrebonne, 10 per graduate is the norm — and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats is discouraged.</p><p>Airhorns, signs and similar items that could prove distracting are prohibited from the ceremonies, which organizers intend to be orderly and dignified. </p><p>The schedule is as follows:</p><h3>TERREBONNE PARISH</h3>
<p>- Ellender Memorial, 7 p.m. May 16, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.</p><p>- Covenant Christian Academy, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 7382 Main St., Houma.</p><p>- Houma Christian, 7 p.m., Living Word Church, 1916 La. 311, Schriever.</p><p>- Vandebilt Catholic, 9 a.m. May 18, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.</p><p>- H.L. Bourgeois, 7. p.m. May 20, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.</p><p>- South Terrebonne, 7 p.m. May 21, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.</p><p>- Terrebonne High, 7 p.m. May 22, Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.</p><h3>LAFOURCHE PARISH</h3>
<p>- E.D. White Catholic, 6:45 p.m. May 17, Thibodaux Civic Center, 310 North Canal Blvd.</p><p>- Thibodaux High, 6 p.m., May 28, Thibodaux Civic Center.</p><p>- Central Lafourche High, 7 p.m. May 29, Thibodaux Civic Center.</p><p>- South Lafourche High, 7:30 p.m. May 30, South Lafourche High auditorium, 16911 E. Main St., Cut Off.</p>